Mounting apparatus for spinning assembly

ABSTRACT

A spinning assembly comprising a housing formed of a shell and a cover and at least a spinning turbine journalled within the shell and having a drive whorl extending outwardly therefrom for tangential engagement with a continuously driven belt. Means are fixed to the frame for pivotally mounting the shell at one end and a lever mechanism for interconnecting the shell, the cover and the frame: the lever mechanism being operable to pivot the shell about the fixed pivot means between a first position wherein said whorl is in engagement with said belt and a second position wherein said whorl is out of engagement with the belt to thereby interrupt the drive of said spinning turbine.

United States Patent 1 nu 3,846,967 Braun Nov. 12, 1974 [5 MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING 3,668,854 6/1972 Le Chatelier 57/58.89

ASSEMBLY 3,695,021 10/1972 Ormerod 57/58.9l

[75] Inventor: Wilhelm Braun, Wendlingen,

Germany [73] Assignee: Kugellagerfabriken GmbH,

Schweinfurt, Germany [22] Filed: June 20, 1972 [21] App]. N0.: 264,528

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 21, 1971 Germany 2130739 [52] U.S. Cl 57/78, 57/58.89, 57/104 [51] Int. Cl. D0lh 1/28, DOlh H12 [58] Field of Search 57/58.89-58.95, 78, 104

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,375,649 4/1968 Bures et al 57/58.9l 3,511,045 5/1970 Bures et al 57/58.9l

Primary Examiner-John W. l-luckert Assistant Examiner-Charles Gorenstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Murray Schaffer [57] ABSTRACT shell, the cover and the frame: the lever mechanism being operable to pivot the shell about the fixed pivot means between a first position wherein said whorl is in engagement with said belt and a second position wherein said whorl is out of engagement with the belt to thereby interrupt the drive of said spinning turbine.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU "UV 1 2 I974 SHEEI 2 OF 2 MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The invention relates to apparatus for mounting assemblies for open end spinning machines.

Spindleless spinning assemblies comprise a housing formed of a shell and cover in which various spinning mechanisms such as the rotating turbine, the feed and picker rollers, etc. are located. It is often necessary to obtain entry to the inside of the housing, for instance to clean the interior of the turbine, the spinning chamber, etc. of dirt, shell particles and fibers. With most open end spinning assemblies there are provided devices, which permit quick and easy entry into the inner turbine space. This is especially the case for such devices in which no possibility is provided for automatically sucking off the fiber ring which remains in the spinning chamber after the breaking of a thread. Furthermore, it is desireable that the opening of the spinning chamber be automatically coupled with a procedure for slowing the drive of the spinning turbine and, if possible, also with a breaking of the spinning turbine.

A spinning assembly which fulfills these conditions to a great degree is described in the Austrian Patent 267,375 and in German Patent Publication DOS 1,815,776. In both cases two-part housings are shown, one part containing the spinning turbine and the other part the devices for feeding and separating or picking the fibers. In these spinning assemblies it was possible to pivot the part containing the devices for feeding and picking the fibers like a cover or closing lid. This pivotal movement automatically brought about a pivotal movement of the part containing the spinning turbine around a pivotal axis fixed mounting with the machine frame. The drive whorl for the spinning turbine was taken off the driving tangential belt and was brought onto a breaking device. In this way it was assured that the spinning turbine came to a stand still immediately after opening and could be cleansed without danger.

A great disadvantage to the above described spinning assembly can be seen in that in order to bring the spinning turbine of a single spinning aggregate to a stand still it was necessary to completely open the cover, while other spinning assemblies associated with it were still left running being driven by the same belt of the spinning machine. This is especially of a disadvantage when the device for automatically cleaning the spinning turbine after a breaking of a thread is provided having means which can only suck off the remaining fiber ring when the spinning turbine comes to a complete stand still or at least runs with greatly decreased revolutions.

The present invention therefore has the object to provide a spinning assembly of the kind described whereby it is possible to interrupt the drive for the spinning turbine even when the spinning'assembly is closed or merely to slow it down.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This task has been solved inventively, by providing a lever mechanism by whose activation the spinning assembly is stopped from operating and the drive of the spinning turbine is interrupted even though the cover is not opened.

According to the present invention the lever mechanism is formed as an over-the-center toggle arranged on the side of the spinning aggregate opposite of the machine-fixed pivoting axis and comprises two levers, one of which serves as an operating or activating lever, with one end pivotable on the shell of the housing and in its middle region pivotable with the one end of the second lever whose other end is pivotable around a second machine-fixed pivot point. The second lever is L- shaped and has two legs angled to each other, of which the one which is connected with the second machinefixed pivot point and acts to stop the pivotal motion of the operating lever. This leg can be abutted against the stop so that when the operating lever is forced to pivot still further, its pivotal point remains fixed in place and the spinning housing on account of the movement is pivoted about the first fixed axis.

In this formation of toggle it has further been found preferrable that the end of the operating lever connected with the housing be pivotable around the pivot axis of the lever itself. Furthermore, it is preferable that the cover of the spinning aggregate is formed in such a way that by its opening a forcible acitivation of the lever mechanism for interruption of the drive of the spinning turbine is being effected.

Further advantages and particulars can be seen from the following description and the accompanying drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 3 show schematic presentations of different manufacturing conditions of spinning assembly of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION As seen in the figures, the spinning assembly comprises the conventional box like rectangular housing or enclosure formed a cover I mounted on a shell 2. The housing 2 is mounted, as will be described, across spaced portions of a stationary or fixed machine frame 3. Located within the shell 2 and not seen in the drawings are the conventional spinning devices such as an open face spinning turbine or rotor, and additional spinning mechanisms such as a fiber picking or loosening roller and fiber feed rollers. Depending through the bottom surface of the shell 2 through the space in the frame is a turbine bearing cylinder at the end of which the drive whorl 4 extends normally into tangential engagement with an endless drive belt 6. Also, depending from the shell 2 is the drive shaft 5 for the fiber picker or loosening roller, which also tangentially engages an endless drive belt 7. The drive belts 6 and 7 are driven continuously in conventional manner and the spinning assembly is otherwise operable in the conventional and usual manner.

The cover 1 is provided at one end with a manually operable lever 8 having a triangular shape, and which is pivoted at point 9 to shell 2. The point 9 serves also as the pivot point between the cover 1 and the shell 2. The operating lever 8 is connected by a bell crank or L shaped lever 11 to a block 13 secured to the machine frame 3. Together the levers 8 and 11 form a toggle arrangement for lifting the shell 2. The block 13 underlies the end of the shell 2. The bell crank lever 11 is pivotally connected to the operating lever 8 at the mid-point l0 and pivotally to the block 13 at point 12. At the opposite end, the shell 2 is pivoted about a transverse pin 14 mounted on the machine frame 13. The pivot pin 14 is otherwise fixed against movement relative to the machine frame.

Mounted on another portion 19 of the machine frame is an angle brace 15 on which a suitable brake pad 16, of conventional high friction material, is secured. The brace 15 and pad 16 are located in line with the whorl 4 but normally spaced from it so as not to interfere with its normal operation. Depending from the shell 2, as seen in FIG. 2, is the bearing cylinder of conventional fiber feed rollers located within the housing 2. A shaft at the end of which is mounted the driven element 17 of a coupling or clutch extends from the fiber feed roller cylinder. Below the driven element 17, there is axially arranged the driving element 18 of the coupling which is fixedly supported by a shaft 21 journalled in a bearing post 20 which is securely mounted on the machine frame 19.

Lastly, the cover member 1 and the shell 2 are securely locked together under operating conditions by a releaseable latch mechanism 22, the release button device of which extends outwardly of the upper surface of the cover 1. The exact details of the latch mechanism can take any form and therefore a showing of the same is omitted here.

In FIG. 1 the spinning assembly is seen in the position it would take during normal operation, that is in the position taken during the spinning process. In this step of the operation the cover 1 is tightly latched closed, by locking means 22, with the lower shell 2 and the entire assembly assures the stationary position relative to the machine frame parts 3 seen in FIG. 1 wherein the forward end rests on block 13 and the rear end fixed by pivot pin 14 on the frame part 3. In this position the drive whorls 4 and 5 are tangentially engaged by belts 6 and 7 respectively so that both the turbine and the loosen rollers are operated. As will be obvious from FIG. 2, in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the coupling or clutch driven element 17 and drivingelements 18 also engage. The operating lever 8 is in its closed or upward position.

FIG. 2 shows the spinning assembly when the spinning operation is interrupted but the cover is not opened. The Assembly is placed in this condition by swinging the operating lever 8 counter-clockwise in the direction of arrow A from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2. The swinging lever 8 causes the pivot point 10 to make a circular sweep or path about the pivot part 9 which of course remains at a fixed distance from it. The swing lever 8, however, causes the bell crank lever 11 to swing about its own pivot end 12 until the lower arm of the crank 11 engages on the block 13 at which time the crank 11 acts as a fulcrum for the assembly so that further force on the outer end of operating lever 8 causes the inner end of the lever 8 to lift the housing 2 at the point 9 along the direction of arrow B. The pivot point 9 hardly moves but only raises upwardly slightly in conjunction with the rising housing 2. Since the housing 2 is pivoted at its rear end about the pin 14 which is fixed to the stationary frame, the entire housing slants upward as is seen in FIG. 2. When this action is completed, the whorls 4 and 5 move away from their respective drive belts and are no longer driven. The turbine whorl 4 automatically engages the brake pad 6'and is instantly slowed and brought to a halt, ceasing the actual spinning operation. Simultaneously, the coupling elements l7 and 18 are also disengaged. It will be noted that the spinning process is stopped even before the cover 1 is opened.

After the spinning assembly has been placed in position seen in FIG. 2 and the operation of the turbine, etc. stopped, the cover may be opened by releasing the latch mechanism 22 and moving the cover counterclockwise about its pivot point 9 in the direction of arrow C, as seen in FIG. 3. When the cover 1 is fully opened, the lower portion of its outer edge engages a point 23 on the operating lever 8 and remains in the open position. Further movement of the open cover, abutting against point 23, forces the operating lever 8 to swing counter-clockwise about point 12 as previously described. The weight and position of the cover 1, maintains the spinning assembly automatically in the position of FIG. 2 where the drive whorls are out of engagement with the belts, not only during the opening process but also when the cover is fully opened, consequently stopping the rotation of the turbine.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a simple arrangement is provided wherein the spinning assembly may be placed out of operating condition before and during the actual opening of the cover and assembly.

The application is a companion to and relates to apparatus shown and described in each of the following U.S. applications, all filed on even date hereof and reference is made to the specifications, claims and drawings of each and their disclosures incorporated herein, as if more fully set out herein:

Ser. No. 264,527 corres. to German Appln. P 21 30 690.1, Gerhard Bartling, Method and Apparatus for Joining Broken Ends,

Ser. No. 264,529 corres. to German Appln. P 21 30 722.2, Rudolf Schiin, Apparatus for the Spindleless Spinning of Textile Fibers, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,597.

Ser. No. 264,530 corres. to German Appln. P 21 30 738.0, Gerhard Bartling et al., Device for Open End Spinning, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,990.

Ser. No. 264,531 corres. to German Appln. P 21 30 724.4, Rudolf Sch6n, Apparatus for Withdrawing Thread, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,989.

Ser. No. 264,450 corres. to German Appln. P 21 30 725.5, Gerhard Bartling, Spindleless Spinning Machines, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,382.

The German applications were all filed on June 21, 1971. The assignee is common to all.

Various other modifications and changes will readily lend themselves to those skilled in the present art. The present disclosure is intended, therefore, to be illustrative only and not limiting of the present invention.

This is especially true with respect to the latch means generally referred to by reference numeral 22. As it becomes clear from the drawings latch means 22 comprises a push-button actuating element 24 accessible from the upper side of the cover 1 and secured thereto in any known and convenient manner, e.g. a nut 26 cooperating with a threaded sleeve slideably accommodating the actuating element 24. The inner end of the latter abuts against the horizontal leg a locking lever 28 pivoted at point 30 which is fixed with respect to cover 1. The vertical leg of lever 28 is spring loaded by a compression spring 32 to be forward biased in a clock-wise direction. At its lower end lever 28 is provided with a nose 34 cooperating with a mating nose 36 of a locking element 40 secured to shell 2.

When pressing down the actuating element 24, lever 28 is turned in a counter-clock-wise direction so that nose 34 comes free of nose 36 and cover 1 may be opened.

Finally, it may be noted that locking action of subject toggle assembly is improved by a certain resiliency of bell crank 11, especially in the position shown in FIG. 1.

What is claimed:

1. Apparatus for mounting a spinning assembly on a machine frame, comprising a housing formed of a shell pivotally mounted at one end to-said machine frame and a cover pivotally mounted on said shell at the opposite end to be movable between an open and closed position relative thereto, said shell being adapted to house at least a spinning turbine journalled within said shell having a drive whorl extending outwardly therefrom for tangential engagement with a continuously driven belt, a lever mechanism interconnecting said shell, said cover and said frame, said lever mechanism comprising a toggle assembly located at the end of said shell opposite to said fixed pivot means, comprising an operating lever pivotally connected at one end to said shell, and an L-shaped lever pivotally connected at one of its ends to the midpoint of said operating lever and pivotally connected at its other end to said frame, the mid-point of said operating lever being swingable about the pivotal connection of said operating lever to said shell whereby said lever is opened and movable therewith into an over the center position with respect to the pivotal connection to cause said L-shaped lever to abut said frame, further movement in the open position causing said operating lever to fulcrum about said L- shaped lever and raise said opposite end from said frame whereby said shell may be caused to pivot about said one end with said cover in closed position between a first position wherein said whorl is in engagement with said belt and a second position wherein said whorl is out of engagement with said belt to thereby interrupt the drive of said spinning turbine and thereafter to cause said cover to pivot relative to said shell.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cover is pivoted about the same point at which saidoperating lever and shell are connected.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cover is provided with means for automatically actuating said toggle assembly in order to stop said spinning turbine when said cover is opened.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cover is provided with means for abutting said operating lever when said cover is opened and for maintaining said operating lever in the second position when said cover is opened.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including additional spinning mechanisms within said shell each of said mechanisms including activating mechanism extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with an associated drive mechanism, said activating and drive mechanisms being engaged in the first position and disengaged in the second.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 including latch means for locking said cover on said shell independently of said lever mechanism. 

1. Apparatus for mounting a spinning assembly on a machine frame, comprising a housing formed of a shell pivotally mounted at one end to said machine frame and a cover pivotally mounted on said shell at the opposite end to be movable between an open and closed position relative thereto, said shell being adapted to house at least a spinning turbine journalled within said shell having a drive whorl extending outwardly therefrom for tangential engagement with a continuously driven belt, a lever mechanism interconnecting said shell, said cover and said frame, said lever mechanism comprising a toggle assembly located at the end of said shell opposite to said fixed pivot means, comprising an operating lever pivotally connected at one end to said shell, and an Lshaped lever pivotally connected at one of its ends to the midpoint of said operating lever and pivotally connected at its other end to said frame, the mid-point of said operating lever being swingable about the pivotal connection of said operating lever to said shell whereby said lever is opened and movable therewith into an over the center position with respect to the pivotal connection to cause said L-shaped lever to abut said frame, further movement in the open position causing said operating lever to fulcrum about said L-shaped lever and raise said opposite end from said frame whereby said shell may be caused to pivot about said one end with said cover in closed position between a first position wherein said whorl is in engagement with said belt and a second position wherein said whorl is out of engagement with said belt to thereby interrupt the drive of said spinning turbine and thereafter to cause said cover to pivot relative to said shell.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cover is pivoted about the same point at which said operating lever and shell are connected.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said cover is provided with means for automatically actuating said toggle assembly in order to stop said spinning turbine when said cover is opened.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cover is provided with means for abutting said operating lever when said cover is opened and for maintaining said operating lever in the second position when said cover is opened.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including additional spinning mechanisms within said shell each of said mechanisms including activating mechanism extending outwardly therefrom for engagement with an associated drive mechanism, said activating and drive mechanisms being engaged in the first position and disengaged in the second.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 including latch means for locking said cover on said shell independently of said lever mechanism. 